Combination magnetic level and center finder device



July 2, 1957 A. VAARA 2,797,486

COMBINATION MAGNETIC LEVEL AND CENTER FINDER DEVICE Filed July 26, I955IN VEN TOR. 650865 A. V4484,

WZ M W2 #0 W ATTOE/VE V57 United States Patet COMBINATIOFTMAGNETIC LEVELA'ND CENTER FINDER DEVICE This invention relates to level devices, andmore particularly'to an improved combination magnetic level and centerfinder'device especially suitable for use in working with metal objectssuch as pipe, sheet metal, and the like.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedcombination level and center finder device which is simple inconstruction, which is easy to use, and which involves only a fewcomponents.

A; further object of the invention is to provide an improvidecombination magnetic level and center finder device which is inexpensiveto manufacture, which is rugged in construction, which may be employedas a protractor, and which is, especially useful in working withobje'ctssuch as pipe, sheet metal, steel'structural members, and thelike.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of an improved combination magnetic level andcenter finder device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a :side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved combination magnetic level andcenter finder device is designated genorally at 11 and comprises anelongated level bar 12 which is substantially rectangular in crosssectional shape, and which is preferably provided with the transverselyarcuate bottom edge 13, as shown in Figure 3. Rotatably mounted in theintermediate portion of the bar 12 is a bubble level assembly 14containing bubble levels 15, 15 in a conventional arrangement, theassembly 14 being rotatable in the plane of the bar 12 and beingprovided with pointer elements 16, 16 which are movable along a circularangle scale 17, whereby the level device may be employed as aprotractor.

The body 12 is of a non-magnetic material and is formed with a pluralityof spaced recesses 18 extending transverse to and from the bottom edge13 of the bar, as shown in Figure 2, said recesses being, for example,spaced symmetrically on opposite sides of the intermediate portion ofthe bar member. Thus, as shown in the typical embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the drawings, two recesses 18, 18 are provided,said recesses being spaced equal distances on opposite sides of thecentrally located level tube assembly 14, the recesses 18 extendingvertically from the horizontal bottom edge of the bar 12.

Secured in the respective recesses 18, 18 are respective permanentmagnets 19, 19, the bottom ends of the magnets being arcuately curved sothat said bottom ends are flush with the arcuately curved bottom edge ofthe bar 12.

The arcuate curvature of the bottom edge 13 of the bar 12 allows saidbar to be readily mounted on a pipe or 2. other round object, in aposition extending longitudinally of the pipe. or similar round object,the bar beingv held in place onthe pipe or other round-object by themagnetic actionof the permanent magnets 19, 19 on the pipe, as sumingthe pipe, or other object above mentioned to be of magnetic material,such as steel, iron, or the like.

Designated at 21 is aprotr'ac'tor blade which is pivotally connected at22-to one end of the bar 12', said blade 21 being received'in' asuitableslot23 provided in the bar, whereby'the' blade 21 may be housedin said slot at times in a' flush position. The blade 21 may be elevatedwith respect to the top edge of the bar 12 and may beclam'ped in anangula-rly adjusted position by means of a wingimit 24 threadedlyengaged on the pivot bolt 22, as isclearly shown in Figure 1.

The end of the bar adjacent the blade 21 may be provided with suitableabrasion-resistant angular wear plates 25', 25, said wear platesprotejctingthe corners of the bar against abrasion.

As shown in'Figur'e. 2, the protractor blade 21 is provided'with asuitable angle scale 26, whereby the angular position of the protractorblade 21 with respect to the level bar 12may be readily ascertained.Thumb nail-engaging grooves 50 are provided in the top marginal. portionof the protractor blade 21', and the inside wallsof the slot23arenotched or recessed at their top portions, asish'own at 51, adjacentsaid grooves 50 when the blade 21' is received fully in slot 23, toprovide a means for elevating the blade 21' from the slot 23.

The end of the level bar 12 opposite the protractor blade 21 is formedwith a V-no'teh 27 which is suitably protected by an abrasion-resistantwear plate 28, as shown in Figure 2. Designated by 29 is a punch rodwhich is slidably mounted longitudinally in the end portion of bar 12adjacent the V-notch 27, said punch extending slidably through anaperture 30 provided centrally in the wear plate 28, as shown in Figure4.

The bar 12 is slotted, as shown at 31, above the rear portion of thepunch rod 29, said punch rod being pro wided with a rear head portion 32of rectangular cross section which is slidably received in a rectangularbore 33 formed in the bar 12 rearwardly adjacent the slot 31 containinga coiled spring 34 which biases the punch rod outwardly.

The rectangular head portion 32 is formed on its bottom surface, asviewed in Figure 4, with a transverse locking notch 35 which islockingly engageable by the transversely extending detent portion 36 ofa catch member 37 slidably mounted in a transverse recess 38 formed inbar 12 adjacent the slot 31. The catch member 37 is provided with a head39, and surrounding the shank portion of the catch member is a coiledspring 40 which bears between head 39 and the subjacent surface of thebar 12, biasing the catch member 37 upwardly, as viewed in Figure 4, andbiasing the detent element 36 against the bottom surface of the enlargedrectangular portion 32 of the center finder punch rod 29.

Rigidly secured to the forward portion of the marker punch rod 29 is avertically extending arm 41 having an external finger tab element 42,the spring 34 biasing the center finder rod 29 forwardly to a positionwherein the arm 41 engages the wear plate 27, as shown in Figure 4.However, the punch rod 29 may be retracted by means of the finger tab 42to allow the detent element 36 to lockingly engage in notch 35, wherebythe punch rod 29 will be releasably retained in its retracted position.To release the center finder rod 29, it is merely necessary to exertpressure on the head 39, causing the catch member 37 to be depressedsufi'lciently to allow detent element 36 to disengage from the notch 35,whereupon the spring 34 will project the center finder rod 29 outwardly.

Thus, in using the center finder element of the device, the pipe orother round object to be inscribed with a punch mark is engaged in thenotch 27 with the level bar 12 held perpendicular-to the pipe or similarobject to be markedgthe ccnter' finder 29. is retractedtolits heldposition wherein detent element 36 engagesin the notch 35, and the head39 is then pushed inwardly to'release the center finder rod, whereby thepunch rod is projected outwardly with substantial force, causing the-tipof the punch rod to indent the object.

While a specific embodiment of an improved combination magnetic leveldevice and center finder has been disclosed in the foregoingdescription, it will be understood that various modifications within thespirit of, the irivention may occur to those skilled in the 'art.Therefore, it is intended thatno limitations be placed on the inventionexcept as defined by the'scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination level bar and center finder of the type comprisingan elongated level bar provided with a bubble level tube therein, oneend of said bar being formed with a V-notch, a horizontal punch rodslidably mounted longitudinally in said end and projecting axially intosaid V-notch, spring means biasing said punch rod outwardly of saidnotch, a vertical catch member slidably mounted in said barperpendicular to and adjacent to said punch rod, a transverselyextending horizontal detent element on said catch member lockinglyengageable with the bottom surface of said punch rod, and spring meansurging said detent element upwardly into latching engagement with saidpunch rod and being arranged to releasably hold said punch rod in aretracted position relative to said notch.

2. In a combination level bar and center finder of the type comprisingan elongated level bar provided with a bubble level tube therein, aprotractor blade pivotally secured in one end of the level bar forrotation in the longitudinal plane of the bar, and means therein toclampingly secure said blade in an angularly adjusted positionrelatively to a longitudinal edge of the level bar, the other end ofsaid bar being formed with a V-notch, a horizontal punch rod slidablymounted longitudinally in said other end and projecting axially intosaid V-notch, said rod being formed with a transversely extending detentnotch in its bottom surface, spring means biasing said punch rodoutwardly of said V-notch, a vertical catch member slidably mounted insaid bar perpendicular to said punch rod and adjacent thereto, atransversely extending horizontal detent element on said catch memberlockingly engageable in said detent notch, and spring means actingbetween said level bar and said catch member and urging said detentelement upwardly into latching engagement with said detent notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS797,824 Seitz Aug. 22, 1905 1,033,742 Skates July 23, 1912 2,113,524Wolfe Apr. 5, 1938 2,133,605 Wikstrom Oct. 18, l938 2,535,791 Fluke Dec.26, 1950 2,569,349 Smith Sept. 25, 1951

